He was wearing a saffron robe and sitting with other religious leaders. He looked oddly familiar. He would suddenly stand up and try to talk, sometimes to interrupt the speaker or to explain the importance of Hinduism to the Maoists trying to disrupt the meeting.

He was former communist leader Mohan Chandra Adhikari, who became a Hindu leader when the government declared Nepal a secular state in April. He was in Bhairahawa attending a Hindu meeting organised by Shivsena, Nepal. He is the same Mohan Chandra who revolted against late communist leader Man Mohan Adhikari and instead got involved in the Jhapa movement. He used to be known as Nepal's Nelson Mandela and was imprisoned for many years during the Panchyat era.

It is not uncommon for Nepali communist leaders to become royalists. Perfect examples are Keshar Jung Rayamajhi and Radha Krishna Mainali. But for a communist leader to actually be involved in a religious movement is still a new trend. At one point Adhikari used to equate religion with an opium addiction. So, why the change in attitude?

"When I was in prison, I realised there is so much to learn from Hinduism," says Adhikari. When the Maoists disrupted the Bhairahawa meeting, he was compelled to return. He said that Hindu leaders from India were invited to Nepal. "They came to Nepal to save Hinduism, it cannot be called foreign interference," he added.